When your water heater fails to properly heat the water in your Delaware residence because of sediment buildup, you are likely to notice it right away. The buildup can cause your device to overheat and create loud noises, provide lukewarm water for showers when you want hot water, and give your water a strong, unpleasant odor due to the growth of bacteria. You can flush or drain sediment deposits from your water heater and improve your unit’s efficiency, allowing you to once again enjoy longer, hot showers, cleaner dishes from your dishwasher, and laundered clothes that don’t quickly lose their vibrant colors.
Wearing Safety Gear
Before you begin the process of removing sediment from your water heater, keep yourself safe from injury by using protective gear. Safety goggles may prevent debris from getting in your eyes, and gloves can protect your hands from contact with the sediment. Remember to wear clothing that covers your arms and legs for protection, and consult an HVAC professional to perform this maintenance on your water heater if you have any concerns working with electric or gas equipment.
Flushing an Electric Water Heater
If you have an electric water heater and need to flush it to remove a buildup of sediments, you must first turn off the device’s breaker unit before shutting off the cold water supply. After the water heater has cooled for a minimum of 30 minutes, you should begin the flushing process by tightly attaching one end of a hose to the water heater’s drain valve and placing the other end of the hose into an oversize bucket outside your home. Turn on a hot water faucet, open your drain valve, and allow the water from your water heater to completely drain from the unit. You will then need to turn on the cold water supply and let it flush the sediment out of the water heater. Continue this process until the water that empties into the bucket outdoors appears clean and free of sediment. Close the drain valve and detach the hose, making sure you wait at least one hour for the water heater to refill before you attempt to use any hot water.
Draining a Gas Water Heater
If you use a gas water heater and want to drain sediments that have settled at the bottom of the unit, turn off the device’s cold water supply line by moving the valve’s handle to the OFF position. Turn off the water heater’s pilot control. Let 30 minutes pass to allow the unit to fully cool. Tightly attach a garden hose to the drain valve and place the hose’s other end in an oversize bucket outside the residence. Open the unit’s drain valve, then allow air into the unit’s tank by pulling the relief valve straight out from the water heater. Turn on a hot water faucet inside the residence to eliminate the water heater’s vacuum. Turn the water back on to fill up the water heater’s tank. At this time, you can be sure that the water filling up the tank is forcing air from it when you hear a bubbling sound. Turn off the hot water faucet and reset the pilot control. Wait for an additional hour before using your hot water.
Using a Water Softener
Sediment tends to build up more quickly in hard water, which features more natural minerals than soft water. You can install a water softener to reduce the development of hard water sediment deposits. This device can cut down on the amount of times you need to flush or drain your water heater.
When sediment settles at the bottom of your water heater, freshly laundered clothes appear dingy after washing and your shower water may not reach the high temperature that you enjoy. Remember to use a water softener so that sediment doesn’t build up in your water heater as often or as quickly. Removing the sediment from your unit by flushing or draining the equipment can greatly improve the water quality in your Delaware home, but wear protective clothing and gear before undertaking this task.
No one likes bathing in water that is murky or smells bad due to the buildup of sediment in your water heater. First Class HVAC has been providing heater servicing in Delaware and Maryland for over 40 years. Contact us today to have one of our knowledgeable technicians perform water heater maintenance and flush or drain your unit, forcing out water that is negatively affected by sediment buildup.